Les Mills

Range of Motion is a commonly used term that is not always fully understood. What is range of motion? It is the range through which a joint can be moved. This finite path of movement can be altered by inactivity, poor flexibility, disease processes (Lupus, arthritis), injury, age, and other factors. When new to a class or exercise, it is possible that you will experience a restricted range of motion. Your ability to improve your range will be determined by your continued participation in the exercise.

Common difficulties in movement can sometimes be attributed to unrealistic expectations. If, for instance, you are in BODYCOMBAT® and your 20 year old instructor can extend a kick well above his/her head, your hip level kick may feel restricted. In actuality, if you are older, of a different gender, have been inactive or have many conditions, your hip level kick may represent a full and appropriate range of motion for you. That is not to say that you cannot increase your range. Certainly as your flexibility, balance, and adherence improves, so will the height of your kick.

Body awareness can also lead to a misperception of one’s own range of motion. The ability to accurately move one’s body through space with purpose is a skill, not a gift. Many participants struggle to connect the picture in their mind to the actual movement produced in their body. Overcoming this disconnect can only be accomplished with practice and repeated attention to the movement. That is to say that if your hips do not move as you’d like them to in BODYJAM®... [Read More]

Why did you choose Les Mills systems?
Les Mills made perfect sense to us being in the university setting. We have always wanted our student instructors to get top of the line industry experience and be able to outsource to other instructors in the area (this has allowed us to do so). BODYPUMP® let’s our participants experience world class group fitness. College is a wonderful time to gain healthy habits and education that will last a lifetime. Not only do we “infect” our students, but our faculty and staff as well. The Les Mills systems have assisted CU with gaining new experiences, having fun events, working with an elite team, and always learning makes the Les Mills system the obvious choice. Our class numbers have grown since we implemented/launched BODYPUMP®. And we have students/faculty and staff joining because of BODYPUMP®/Les Mills. Our goal as we expand our fitness at CU is to add more Les Mills programs. For 2010 we are looking to have a new fitness building with over 3 multipurpose rooms. Our University sees this as our chance to expand with the Les Mills programs.

How’s the customer support?
I have never worked with such accommodating people. Every time I need something our Business Rep and Club Coach (same person) is there. Not to mention she is a US BODYPUMP® trainer and one of my instructors.

And the marketing?
It is great to have so many options for marketing materials at our fingertips! From class passes to launch posters, instructor recruitment materials to motivational banners, there is no way we could even come close to creating on our own the resources we have through eClub and in the Launch Kit. [Read More]

Riding to higher profits!

Recently Les Mills Midwest has had a number of phenomenal RPM® launches that have led to amazing numbers in this challenging class. Launching this program effectively is essential to its success. Also, RPM® offers one of those rare opportunities for fee based programming to generate revenue. Read on!

From Joy Grove, Five Points Washington
in Washington, IL

”…We painted the road with chalkboard paint so the members can write their favorite motivational sayings on the road, or they can leave notes for other members, or we can post race results, whatever it may be! We also have a somewhat large 'chalkboard' on one wall that we can write on! Also put in a sweet stereo system and have a blue light to ride in!

During the Grand Opening week, every time a member came to a RPM® class they got the chance to enter their name into a drawing for an awesome prize from a local cycling shop. The more classes they attended, the better their chances! There was a female winner and a male winner."
[Read More]

And so the debate rages on! MUST a person be an instructor in order to be a good group fitness manager? Is it best to have someone outside the studio creating the schedule and managing the budget? The answer is complicated. Long ago, the group exercise “manager” was little more than the most popular instructor who gave herself all the best time slots, her friends the next most preferred, and stuck everyone else in the left overs. Those days, we hope, are gone, but the question remains: should the GFM be an instructor? The answer: it depends!

Some instructors are excellent schedulers, budgeters, event planners, number crunchers, record keepers and report givers. Others are not. Just as some are capable of teaching, personal training, coaching and managing…many more are singular in their ability and desire. If you are a GFM, aspire to be, or need to hire one…look below for some important qualities to seek and those to avoid in the “right” person for the job.

INSTRUCTOR: While it is desirable for the GFM to understand group fitness, instructing it is not entirely necessary. Participating, however, should not be optional. In order to effectively lead a department, one must fully understand it. Instructors are privy to information managers will simply never receive. The relationships developed within the group exercise department are personal and unique. The person you place in “charge” of the department should certainly be able to appreciate the dynamics within it.
[Read More]

BRAND NEW JUNE CLUBS: Welcome to the TRIBE!

ChiroFitness Xtreme from Rock Island, IL
YMCA Dubuque Community in Dubuque, IA
Pepsi Ice Midwest of Overland Park, KS

ALL of these fabulous facilities are now offering BODYPUMP®!

FOUR Fabulous locations stepped it up. Debuting BODYSTEP® were:

Alpine Tennis & Fitness in Dubuque, IA
Lady of America Fitness for Women from Canton, MI
Lake Forest Health & Fitness in Lake Forest, IL
Powerhouse Gym-Portage in Portage, MI [Read More]